Tine Deckers celebrated a sensational fifth triumph, while the Spaniard Victor del Corral started a marathon turbo in the men’s race.

by Volker Boch

del Corral Amazes

Everyone in Nice knows that you'd better not get into a running battle with Victor del Corral. Last year, the Spaniard ran a 2:42 marathon to get second behind Germany’s Boris Stein. In 2014, he ran a 2:42 marathon to get the runner-up spot behind Bart Aernouts (BEL). Every time it comes down to the traditional race in Nice and del Corral is in the mix, it means a brutal run in store.

This year was no different. France's Robin Pasteur came out of the Mediterranean Sea in 47:41, four seconds in front of his compatriot Kevin Rundstadler. But this was no reason for del Corral to worry. He exited the water seven minutes down, but the first bigger group including favorites like Frederik van Lierde (BEL), Bertrand Billard from France and South African James Cunnama was only four minutes away. The Spaniard knows that this race is a race where you need to pace yourself, so he kept going.

Although Gwenael Ouilleres and Billard tried to break away on the long and tough climbs, experienced athletes like van Lierde or Cunnama seemed to remain relaxed. With 40 kilometers to go on the bike, Cunnama was in third place and four minutes down behind leader Billard and Ouilleres. Frederick van Lierde was almost 6 minutes off the lead.

The men’s race seemed to start all over again with the debut of the marathon. Billard reached T2 in first place with a 3-minute lead on Cunnama, but 13 kilometers later the South African ruled IRONMAN France from the front and Billard began to suffer. Van Lierde entered the run course 7 minutes behind in fifth place, while del Corral was in sixth and already 7:42 down. With 15 kilometers to go, the situation completely changed. Billard was out of the race and Cunnama had taken the lead. But the South African could see a shadow: del Corral was in the runner-up position and less than 3 minutes behind, and van Lierde was 5:25 down in third place battling with Germany’s Stefan Schmid.

The eventual winner ran the first half of the marathon in 1:18, taking over the lead shortly before the 30-kilometer mark. Cunnama seemed to lack the energy he needed for the situation, but he didn’t give up and fought hard to close the gap again. When he crossed the line, he was only 35 seconds behind the big deal. Del Corral had exactly the same finish time as in 2015, but the result made him smile much bigger. Van Lierde lost the fight for third place to Schmid but he crossed the line prouder than ever—thanks to a performance landing only six weeks after a bike crash resulting in a broken collar bone and surgery.

Deckers claim coveted victory

Tine Deckers headed into race day with an indomitable will. After winning IRONMAN France for the first time in 2009, and again in 2010, 2012, and 2014, she really wanted to do it again. For years, she's been in love with this race. The bike course especially seems to be made for the Belgian, and she proved it again, nailing down the best bike split by far.

When the 37-year-old hit T1 on the famous Promenade des Anglais, she might have already had the feeling that another magic Nice moment was in store for her. 2012 IRONMAN world champion Leanda Cave was a little ways away after showing the best swim performance ahead of her Brit compatriot Kate Comber. A little more than five minutes was not a decisive gap facing such a tough bike course, however.

Deckers seemed to enjoy the climbs and pushed herself into the lead over the first 45 kilometers. When she reached the top of Col de l’Ecre after 70 kilometers, she was already 2:21 ahead of Swiss IRONMAN rookie Emma Bilham. Leaving the Côté du Broc at km 140, she had already put more than 8 minutes on Bilham, and Comber in third was behind by more than 18 minutes. Deckers finished the bike course with a lead of more than 12 minutes over her pursuer Cave, in third place and already 22 minutes down.

Those who predicted that Deckers would slow on the run then were proven wrong over the next three hours. The Belgian leader would go on to execute a very consistent marathon and take her fifth win in Nice. The five-time champion was already dealing with interviews when Bilham crossed the line after a brilliant IRONMAN debut race, while Cave was still in the middle of a tough battle. American Leslie Dimichele Miller made the Brit have to fight for the last podium spot. Miller stormed through the Promenade des Anglais with the fastest marathon, but couldn’t outsprint Cave for third.